Almost 100 people turned out for Fly Eagles Friday at the Carbon County Environmental Education and Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Summit Hill.

The combination eagle program and Philadelphia Eagles pep rally was held in the center’s pavilion. Franklin Klock, naturalist, eagle handler for the center and a big Philadlelphia Eagles fan, came up with the idea.

Most everyone had on Philadelphia Eagle shirts, coats, and hats, all to show their support for the Eagles playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Susan Gallagher, center director, introduced “Ace,” the center’s mascot, and introduced Klock and Rennie, a female bald eagle that is about 23 years old.

Rennie was hit by a truck on Route 93 near Nesquehoning nearly 22 years ago.

“When we got the call,” Gallagher said, “we figured that it probably wasn’t an eagle at all, but possibly a vulture. At that time, the eagle population was very low.”

But, it turned out to be a bald eagle.

“She had injuries to her head, a toe was missing, and one of her wings was drooping down. We got help from St. Francis Animal Hospital and Dr. Dawn Mriss, and Companion Animal Hospital,” Gallagher said.

Because of her injuries, Rennie couldn’t be released into the wild, so she became the center’s ambassador, going on field trips to schools and other events on eagle culture.

Klock shared how he had been invited to conduct a program on eagles with Rennie at the Ben Franklin Museum in Philadelphia.

“When I pulled in with our truck with the eagle in it, there were two federal officers in full battle regalia. Automatic weapons, helmets, the whole thing. I said to them, ‘Am I not supposed to park here?’ And they said, ‘No sir, we’re here for you.’ They put those guards on our truck for this bird the entire time we were there,” Klock said.

Klock and Gallagher also shared with the crowd that earlier Friday, they drove to Berwick and released another eagle that was at the center for rehabilitation.

Everyone joined in singing “Fly, Eagles Fly,” the Philadelphia Eagles’ fight song.

Children and adults had a chance to get photos with Rennie and Ace. Afterward, everyone was invited into the Center’s main building for refreshments.